WASHINGTON — Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL5) joined several other members of the US House of Representatives Wednesday evening to call on the Senate to “go nuclear” to stop Obama’s executive amnesty.
“The House has done its job,” Rep. Brooks said in a statement. “It is time for the Senate to act to both stop President Obama’s illegal and unconstitutional executive amnesty and fund the Department of Homeland Security.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriation bill has stalled as Senate Dems have blocked the bill from even being debated on. Normal Senate rules require 60 votes to bring a bill for debate and possible amendment, but Republicans are just a few short.
There is a procedure, referred to as the “nuclear option” that would allow the bill to be advanced by a mere simple majority vote. The nuclear option has historically been used sparingly, but under the leadership of Harry Reid it was used in 2013 to shut down debate on presidential appointees.
“The Senate leadership claims they lack the 60 votes to overcome a Democrat filibuster and pass the House’s Homeland Security funding bill,” continued Rep. Brooks. “Yet a mere majority of the Republican Senate has the power overcome Democrat Senator obstructionism. Just as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Democrat Senate majority in 2013 used the ‘nuclear option’ to change Senate rules and cut off filibusters on presidential appointees, now-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Republican majority has the power to exercise the ‘nuclear option’ and eliminate filibusters for any bill that funds the federal government.”
Congressman Brooks spoke on the need for the Senate to both fund DHS and defund President Obama’s executive amnesty, which he called “illegal and unconstitutional.”
“I would submit that it’s time for the United States Senate to change their rules, to reflect the will of the American people. And certainly if those rules can be changed for mere appointments by the president, they can also be changed to protect the United States Constitution and the separation of powers,” Rep. Brooks said.
Rep. Brooks’ statement reflects the country’s growing frustration with the inability of Congress to reform immigration.
“Mr. Speaker, I can’t speak for any senators or for that matter any other elected officials in Washington, D.C.,” Rep. Brooks said, “but I can speak for me and I can speak for the people of the Tennessee Valley of the State of Alabama. I vote to put the jobs and wage interests of struggling American families over the interests of illegal aliens. I encourage all senators of both parties to do the same. Respect the wishes of the American people, act on behalf of the American people, and if you do that, America will continue to prosper, and the rule of law in America will continue to prevail.”
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— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015
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